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ander the travellers take boat to Uleaborg in Finland , and thence , after further adventure , pass on to Stockholm , and thence onward till they return to England . Thus ended their summer campaign of 1873 . In 1874 , they set out for the home of the Samoyedes , on the White Sea . Archangel was the first point , and here Mr . Eae and the Doctor , whose real name , by the way , is Mr . Henry Pilkington

Brandreth , having obtained whatever was requisite in the way of passports , and also a podorostoni , or order for post-horses from station to station , the exploration is commenced . It is hardly needful , however , that we should dwell , at any length , on the writer's account . The journey was well worth undertaking , and the narrative is well worth reading . Little , perhaps , is known in England of this simple people , so that

the account of this journey cannot fail to be instructive as well as interesting . The excerpts we have given aro sufficient evidence of the proposition we stated at the outset . For the full particulars ofto use a commercial expression—these highly successful ventures , we refer our readers to the book itself , in the firm conviction that they

will derive infinite pleasure from the study of its pages . We may add that the book is admirably " got up , " as , indeed , is tho case with all Mr . Murray ' s publications , that there are a few illustrations and an excellent map with the course followed by the travellers on eaoh journey .

Carter ' s Catalogue of Fresh Imported Dutch Flower Roots , 1875 . Messrs . Carter and Co ., the well-known seedsmen , are always foremost in their desire to furnish their patrons with the newest and choicest varieties of bulbs and other plants . As the season for cultivating the former is close at hand , those of our readers who wish to have their beds well filled with hyacinths , narcissus , tulips ,

crocuses , and the like , who confine their attention to the conservatory or the room , or a small amount of window decoration only , should take an early opportunity of laying in tho needful supply of bulbs . For first come , first choice . Messrs . Carter and Co . 's collections aro well assorted , and contain , according to price , named varieties of every description of bulb . Those for the conservatory and window

decoration vary from half-a-guinea to four guineas , those for the conservatory and open ground from fifteen shillings to four guineas , and those for planting in the open from half-a-guinea to four guineas . Among the most costly varieties are "King of the Blues , " dark blue and purple , marked seven and sixpence a root , " Lothair " and " Lord Derby , " light blue , four and sixpence and three and sixpence

a-piece respectively , "La Grandesse" and "L'Innocence , " pure white , six and sixpence and five and sixpence a-piece ; " Garibaldi , " dark red and crimson , five and sixpence each , " Bird of Paradise , " yellow , six and sixpence each . Other varieties good , but less costly , range from sixpence to two shillings , and two and sixpence per root . Among Lilies are the beautifnl " Lilium Auratum " of Japan ,

varying from balf-a-crown to half-a-guinea a-piece , and some new varieties of which the " Lilium Krameri , " and the " Lilium . Tigrinum Flore Pleno , " range as high as a guinea each , while the " Lilium Giganteum " ranges from five to fifteen shillings each . Then there are Iris , Ixias , Eanuncnli , Gladioli , & c , & c , all of the best class , and fair in prico . Bnt while the greatest prominence is given to thnso

plants , others arc included in the catalogue , among them being tho beautiful foliago plants , the new crocus , "Duchess of Edinburgh , " to which first class certificates were awarded last year and this , another colons " The Mandarin , " both being half-a-crown a plant , or three and sixpence if extra strong ; the new Gloxinea , " Queen of England , " half-a-guinea a piece , to which a first class certificate was

awarded last year b y the Boyal Horticultural Society . Then there arc Greenhouse Plnnts , Herbaceous Plants , Eoses of every kind , besides ^ Fruit Trees , Vines , Ornamental Trees and others . In fact , those given to floriculture will find no difficulty in obtaining what they want of Messrs . Carter and Co ., whoso anxiety to please their patrons is too well known to stand in need of any comment from us .

James Tntch and Son ' s Catalogue of Hyacinths and other Bulbous Hoots . Autumn 1875 . Eoyal Exotic Nursery , King ' s-road , Chelsea , S . W . MKSSUS . VEITCII AND SONS confine themselves iu this catalogue almost wholly to bulbs , of which they offer a great variety , some of their choicest specimens being those to which prizes were awarded

at different exhibitions both last year as well as in 1871 , 1872 and 1873 . Here again the Hyacinths aro in great force both as regards tho nnmber and quality of their specimens . There aro Polyanthus Narcissus , Narcissus , Jonquils , Tulips , Scillas , Ixias , Sparaxis , Tritonias , Cyclamens , especially " Cyclamen Persicum Grandiflorum , " five shillings and seven and sixpence each , to which the first class certificate of tho lloyal Botanic Society was awarded on the 22 nd

March 18 / J . The lilies also include the rarest varieties ( L . Auratum , L . Gi ;/ smtcuni , L . Brownii or Japonicum , L . Hamboldti , & c ) , and Gladioli , besides varieties of vegetable seed for autumn sowing , and flower seeds for ditto , & c , & c . Wo arc are confident tho patrons of Messrs . Veitch and Sons will be well pleased with the quality of the purchases they make , but tho purchases should be made soon , as the rango of selection is necessarily greater .

Vita di Michel Angelo Buonarroti Narrata con I ' ainto di nuovi documenti di Aurelio Gotli , Direttore delle U . K . Qallerie di Firenze . Firenze : Ti pografia della Gazzetta d'ltalia Editrice . 12 Scttcmbre 1875 .

inis year marks the fourth centenary of one of Ital y ' s greatest eons , the painter , poet , sculptor and architect , Michael Angelo . Additional interest has been given to tho fact by the appearance , on the 12 th of the present month , of a new biography of the artist , from the pen of Sigor Aurelio Gotti , Director of the Eoyal Galleries of

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Florence . In this are published for the first time , some important documents , preserved in tbe Bnonarotti family , which lend to the work a value not possessed by the older biographies of Condivi , Vasari , Harford , and Grimm . The work moreover is executed with great skill , reverence , and discretion , and it can scarcely be doubted that it will henceforth be regarded as furnishing the most authoritative

exposition of this extraordinary man ' s career . From the letters that are published in the second volume , we obtain a very clear insight into what is unquestionably the most interesting artistic epoch of modern times , the age of Eaphael Leonardo da Vinci and Michael Angelo . Contemporary with these three men existed a . crowd of

painters and sculptors of an inferior , but yet high order , amongst whom jealousy of their greater fame became in many instances exalted or degraded into an all absorbing passion . The malignant euvy of Baccio Bandinelli caused the destruction of one of Michael Angelo's greatest works , the cartoon executed for the Hall of the Grand Council of Florence , and of which but a few fragments

remain . It was of this grand work that the celebrated Benvenuto Cellini writes : " As long as the Cartoon stood it was the school of the world . " To tho jealousy of Bramante , however , we owe the scenes of scriptural frescoes which adorn the vaults of the Sistine Chapel at Eome . For , to quote Vasaria , he persuaded the Pope " to

take Michael Angelo away from sculpture , in which they , Bramante and other jealous ones , recognised his perfection , and put him to painting , in which , as he had small experience in frescoes , they hoped he would produce less praiseworthy work than Eaphael , and should he succeed , they still resolved to set the Pope against him , and prevent him from continuing , it ' being their intention , in one way or

another , to get rid of him . " But it is needless to add that the artist's genius , on this as on other occasions , altogether confounded his adversaries . Perhaps the works in which Michael Angelo's powers are best shown are the painting of the " Last Judgment , " and the finely sculptured tomb of Julius II . Of the former work one Signor Biagio ventured to oxpress an opinion

to Pope Paul , " Holy Father , " he said , " if I might utter my thoughts , I would say that this painting is more fit for a tavern room than for the chapel of a Pope . " The artist heard this not too flattering criticism , and revenged himself on the speaker by painting his portrait amongst the lost sonls . The same Pope , at another time , took upon himself to find some fault with this work , and the fact was

reported to the painter . " Tell Pope Paul , he replied , "to trouble himself less with correcting my picture , which it is easy for him to do , and to try and reform public manners , which he will find more difficult . " Signor Gotti ' s woi'k corrects some mistakes into which former biographers bavo fallen , and adds some facts which , being both interesting and now , would of themselves suffice to ensure for the work a hearty welcome .

Mad "line , and other Poems . By J . PUNTIS . London : Civil Service Printing and Publishing Company . 1875 . THIS is an attractive little work , handsomely got up , and very well suited for a birthday or other present . The poetry is of a passable order , though moro remarkable for promise than performance . As a fair average specimen of the quality of the work , wo may quoto the following poem : —

THE AMBUSCADE . Hark ! hark , my men , to the distant sound Of the tramp of the coming foe ; Lie close ! lio close to tho shelt ' ring ground , Soon enough our presence he'll know .

Hist ! hist , my men , a word do not breathe , Their plumes are fast rising in sight j Keep close ! keep close , don ' t your placos leave , Wc will soon put them all to flight .

Be ready ! fire ! don't hurry ! tako aim ! That's a welcome they didn't expect ; Your rifle ' s music ' s like pat'ring rain ! See ! they reel like a ship that ' s wreck'd .

Start up ! start up ! fix your bayonets fast ; Charge ! charge with a ringing cheer ! March on ! march on ! hark , tho bugles blast ! They'll be off before wo get near .

They fly ! quick , quick . ' oh , never mind mo ! Hurrah ! for my Queen I die ! On , on ! just pnt me under that tree ; Till you come back thero I will lie .

The Freemason ' s Repository ( Providence , R . I . ) contains part of the address , recently delivered , by the Hon . George B . Loring , at the dedication of the Masonic Hall , North Andover , Mass ., on St . John ' s Day , 24 th Jane . We commend it to the notice of our readers . Thero is a long and appreciative obituary notice of our late distinguished Bro . Dr . Winslow Lewis , whose Masonic career , extracted from this account , will be quoted in another issue , and summarised accounts of Masonic proceedings in various part of the United States .

Chambers Journal contains the first eleven chapters of a now story from the pen of that well-known romaucist , Captain Mayce Eeid , whose previous tales have afforded so mnch pleasuro to all classes of readers , but especially to those of the lively and more imaginative ago boyhood . The other contents are unnsnally excelleut , and we have

noted with great pleasure the articles on tho " Natural History and Sport of South America , " "Edible Birds' Nests , " " Factory Life in Lancashire , " " Seventeen years among Savages , " and " Holiday Botanism , " the last being extracted almost wholly from the Queen , but none the less worthy of attention for being quoted . There are